Jeg Coughlin wins fifth NHRA Pro Stock title

Created: 11/15/2013 11:35 AM

(AP) POMONA, Calif. - Jeg Coughlin won his fifth Pro Stock title Sunday in the Auto Club NHRA Finals, joining John Force, Shawn Langdon and Matt Smith as season champions.

Coughlin, a four-time event winner this season in his Dodge Avenger, took the title at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona when his only remaining challenger, Jason Line, lost in the second round of eliminations.

"In this day and age, it is so tough to win out here," said Coughlin, from Columbus, Ohio. "We’ve seen a lot of races won and lost by just a few thousandths of a second. I think this is one of the tightest, and one of the most intense championships I’ve ever won. This ranks right up there with 2007 when we had the two cuts to the Countdown to One in the first year of our playoffs."

Coughlin is the eighth driver in NHRA history to win five pro series championships. He also won a Super Gas title in the NHRA Lucas Oil Series in 1992.

After wrapping up the season title Saturday in qualifying, Langdon finished off his season by racing to his seventh victory of the year, holding off Doug Kalitta at the finish line. Langdon powered to a 3.784-second run at 323.58 mph, while Kalitta had a 3.808 at 322.04.

In Funny Car, Hagan rallied to beat 16-time champion Force in the final round and finished second in the series standings. Hagan had a 4.018 at 320.66 in his Dodge Charger.

Force wrapped up the title in the previous event in Las Vegas.

Rickie Jones raced to his first career Pro Stock victory, beating Allen Johnson in the final round.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Krawiec topped Scotty Pollacheck in the final. Smith won the title in Las Vegas.